FAQ
TL;DR: Switching from a Huawei E3372 (~13 Mbps DL) to an LTE-A router like the E5785 (~37 Mbps DL) boosts speed about 170 % [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194] “USB LTE modems are a relic” [Elektroda, matek451, post #18850175]
Why it matters: Picking hardware with carrier-aggregation can triple real-world throughput and stabilise latency for gaming and streaming.
Quick Facts
• LTE Cat 6 (2×CA) devices such as Huawei B535 cost ~PLN 300 – 350 and reach 300 Mbps DL, 100 Mbps UL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142]
• LTE Cat 12 (2×CA + 4×4 MIMO) Huawei B618 sells for ~PLN 330 used, offering 600 Mbps DL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18914860]
• LTE Cat 19 Huawei B818 handles 4×CA and sells near PLN 700, peak 1.6 Gbps DL [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142]
• Mobile routers E5785/MF971 give ~6 h battery life and USB-tethering plus TS9 antenna jacks [Elektroda, matek451, #18853671; #18867191].
• Play prepaid “100 GB for PLN 3–5” promo valid until 30 Sep 2020; activatable via Play24 app [Elektroda, matek451, post #18850175]
Why does my old Huawei E3372 spike ping and drop packets?
E3372 works on a single LTE band; overloaded cells cause 400 – 40 000 ms spikes and 100 % loss [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18848815] Newer routers aggregate two or more bands, easing congestion and stabilising latency.
Is the E3372 still worth buying in 2024?
No. It lacks carrier aggregation, external-antenna ports are limited, and firmware support stalls. Expert comment: “E3372 to play with children” [Elektroda, matek451, post #18849910]
What’s the cheapest router with useful aggregation?
Huawei B535 (Cat 7, 2×CA) costs PLN 300-350 and supports B7+B1 and B1+B3 combos needed in Warsaw [Elektroda, matek451, post #18911142]
How much faster is Cat 12 B618 than Cat 7 B535?
B618 doubles antenna streams (4×4 MIMO). Lab tests show up to 33 % higher DL versus 2×2 MIMO when base-station supports it [Rohde & Schwarz, 2021]. Edge-case: if local BTS lacks 4×4, speed gain can be <5 %.
Does MIMO 4×4 always work?
No. Many Polish BTS sites expose 4×4 only on 2600 MHz. Without it, Cat 12 routers revert to 2×2, giving no extra speed [Elektroda, matek451, post #18924375]
Mobile router or stationary?
For home, stationary B535/B618 offer LAN ports and better Wi-Fi. For travel, E5785 or ZTE MF971 give USB tethering plus battery; expect 6 h runtime, extendable via power-bank [Elektroda, matek451, post #18853671]
Can I run a mobile router without the battery?
Huawei E5785 works on DC-5 V USB with battery removed; ZTE MF971 has fixed battery and must stay inserted [Elektroda, matek451, post #18858923]
Will adding an external antenna cut ping?
Only if current RSRP is below –90 dBm. With 5-bar signal already shown, antenna improves little; focus on aggregation instead [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194]
How do I force specific LTE bands on Huawei HiLink?
- Install LTEFix or HManager on Windows.
- Enter router IP → Diagnostics → Band Lock.
- Tick desired bands (e.g., B7+B3) and save. [Elektroda, matek451, post #18868215]
Is using an old phone (e.g., Galaxy S5) as a modem viable?
It’s makeshift. Phones are Cat 4 (150 Mbps), lack antenna ports, and most routers can’t USB-tether without custom OpenWRT firmware [Elektroda, matek451, post #19039002]
What’s a real-world speed I can expect in Warsaw’s Mokotów?
Forum tests show 37 Mbps DL / 27 Mbps UL on Cat 6 E5785, vs 13 / 28 Mbps on E3372 single-band [Elektroda, suchejro, post #18868194]
Will double NAT from MiFi-to-router chain hurt gaming?
Yes, it can add 10-20 ms latency and break port-forwarding. Use bridge mode or a single LTE-A router when possible [Cisco, 2022].
, but maybe some additional features that improve the overall capabilities of the hardware?